Mad Science Coming Out Of The Ashes

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Sisters Jaime and Kelly Ferreira of Mad Science of Hawaii. Photo from Jaime Ferreira.

Though fire destroyed the Wilhelmina Rise home of Mad Science sisters “Jiggy” Jaime and “Cosmic” Kelly Ferreira, it’s not stopping the show nor dampening their spirits.

“Luckily a great deal of the Mad Science material did survive the fire so we’re still operational, and we’re still doing shows - in that aspect we’re doing great,” said Jaime, who’s staying with friends in Kapolei while Kelly is with friends in Honolulu.

A self-described “performer at heart,” Jaime added, “I have to say we’re very relieved that the business made it. It’s very difficult losing everything you own and having to start from scratch, but it would be a lot worse. ... I would trade all my personal belongings for Mad Science any day.”

As owners and performers with the children’s educational and entertainment company, the sisters are borrowing friends’ computers and cars to keep the show running despite losing their database of customer contacts and their schedule of bookings through mid-2008.

The sisters ask that those who had booked Mad Science to leave a message at 737-2400 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to remind them of their gigs.“We’ve had very, very understanding customers,” they said.

The Aug. 27 fire also destroyed the Mad Science Mobile and most of their personal belongings, including three computers, four TVs and all the furniture. A neighbor’s home was also destroyed in the morning blaze, which awoke family friend Tony Moore. He “heard a big boom like someone pushed the refrigerator over upstairs,” Jaime said. “He came running upstairs, and half the house was on fire so it was very, very fast.”

“It is a very traumatic experience,” admitted Jaime, who like Kelly returned to Hawaii to run Mad Science, which entertains keiki age 4 to 12.

The Ferreiras have been helped by the Red Cross and strangers, including a woman shopper at Longs who insisted on buying Jaime shampoo after recognizing her.

“It’s something small,” she said, “but I just cried. People have been absolutely amazing to us.”